Bait target



May 6, 1941.

BAIT TARGET Filed May l9, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I .I/ws/v r025 MAer/N D. JA/MCT EPA/w C. Kcecwce,

M. D. JAIMET ETAL 2,241,135

May 6, 1941.

M. b. JAIMET EITAL 41,135

BAIT TARGET Filed May 19, 1939 s Sheets-Sheet s r2001? use /3 i29 38 FLOOP scc r/o/sg/g- FLOOR 55C 770 A5 Ivvavroes Mew/v QJA/METM" Flu/m (I AEPCHEE',

H7 70 P/VEVS Patented May 6, 1941 UNITED BAIT TARGET Martin D. Jaimet and Frank C. Kercher, Indianapolis, Ind.

Application May 19, 1939, Serial No. 274,506

8 Claims.

dual by judging the location of the spot at which the plug drops. Such a method depends entirely upon the judgment of the individual and it is at once apparent that accuracy by such a method is almost impossible.

It is an important object of the invention to provide a target at which the plugs may be cast and which will indicate with accuracy not only a perfect cast or strike but also one or more values depending upon the nearness to the perfect The target is suitable equally as well for cast. both indoor and outdoor casting, either upon land or upon water. Ordinarily, in contests or tournaments, either or ounce plugs are employed.

When one of these plugs is cast, it often rebounds several times in a single cast so that controversy may arise as to the actual position of the original point of contact of the plug. At least after it has been cast and gone through a series of rebounds, there is no means for determining thereafter at what point the plug originally struck.

A further important object of the invention is to determine with certainty and indicate either visibly or audibly by a suitable signal the exact zone in which the plug originally struck and to prevent the showing of other signals upon subsequent rebound of the plug. In other words the invention provides a means for indicating with accuracy the exact zone in which the plug originally strikes and prevents the showing of other signals for rebound positions of the plug.

A still further important object of. the invention is to provide a structure that will not only be suitable but will be reliable in operation over a long period of time and which can be adjusted for sensitivity to various weights of plugs employed.

These and many other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those versed in the art in the following description as illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a structure embodying the invention with part of the scoring floor broken away;

Fig. 2, a side elevation;

Fig. 3\, a detail in vertical section on an en-' -larged scale on the line 33 in Fig. l;

Fig. 4, a top plan view on an enlarged scale of an actuating switch;

Fig. 5, a side elevation of the switch; and

Fig. 6, a schematic wiring diagram.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

A skeleton frame is formed by a plurality of arms III, the number of which arms depends somewhat upon the desired diameter of the target. In the form herein shown, six of the arms II! are employed and are secured by their inner ends against respective faces of a hexagonal central block II and radiate therefrom to have, in the present showing, a circumferential enclosing band I2 secured to their outer ends. The top edges of these arms I0 terminate in a common plane.

A floor is provided to cover the arms and this floor consists of a central disc I3 with separate annular sections I4 and I5 arranged concentrically therearound and in slightly spaced apart relation. That is, there is an annular section I4 immediately surrounding the central disc I3 and then a second larger annular section I5 immediately surrounding the section I4 with a slight spacing therebetween. The top faces of the disc I3 and the two sections I4 and I5 lie in the same horizontal plane. The outer peripheral portion of the section I5 extends at least to the outer face of the side wall I2. The central disc I3 and the two sections I4 and I5 are carried by the arms III to permit vertical travel within certain limits.

For example, the outer section I5 is located and guided by having a plurality of posts I6, Fig. 3, secured to the section to extend downwardly therefrom through holes in brackets I'I carried by the arms I0. Two of these mountings are sufficient. The post I6, as indicated in Fig. 3, is in the present form secured against the under side of the floor section I5 by means of a screw I8 passing down through the section and screwthreadedly engaging the post I6 pulled up in abu ment thereagainst. The lower end of the post I6 is provided with a stop on the under side of the bracket II, the stop herein shown as being a cotter pin I9 passed through a hole in the post. To prevent binding of the post I6 in the hole through the bracket II, the hole is preferably conically shaped so as to reduce contact of the bracket with the post to substantially a circumferential line. The cotter pin I9 is spaced downwardly along the post I6 a distance which will permit lifting of the section I5 a distance above the top edges of the arms III.

In like manner the floor section I I and also the central disc l3 are tied to arms thereunder thus fixing the individual members of the floor to prevent shifting thereof laterally in any direction but permitting vertical travel within limits. Each of the three floor members I3, M and I5 are normally spaced in an upper position in a yielding manner whereby each section may be individually depressed without changing the elevation of the remaining members. In the present form, three of such supporting members are employed for each member although this number may be varied, of course, in accordance with the diameters of the respective members.

Referring to the disc I3, this disc is supported upon three equally Spaced apart buttons 20. Each of these buttons 26 is carried upon a shiftable arm 2|, Figs. 4 and 5, which is pivotally mounted at one end on a block 22. A block 22 is secured to every second arm It to secure the uniform spacing of the buttons 20, and the blocks 22 are further spaced along the respective arms it so as to bring them within a common circle within the disc i3. Referring again to Figs. 4 and 5, the arm 2| has a down turned foot 25 which passes between bracket arms 23 and 24 secured to the end of the block 22. Needle point bearings carried by the arms 23 and 24 engage the edges of the arm 2| so as to permit free swinging of that arm vertically. A screw 26 passes through the foot 25 toward the end of the block 22 to serve as a stop limiting the upward swing of the arm 2|. A spring 27 engages an adjustable stud 28 which is mounted on a bracket 29 secured to the side of the block 22. The spring 2'1 extends from an end of the stud 28 to engage by its other end an arm 36 which is secured to the foot 25. By adjusting the length of the stud 23 relative to its bracket 29, the tension of the spring 2'! may be varied accordingly and thereby determine the force required to push the arm 2| downwardly. Since the disc |3 rests directly upon the buttons 26 of the respective units thus described, the amount of pressure required to depress the disc i3 is controlled by the adjusting of the studs 28.

Under the free end of the arm 2| is provided a switch normally open and arranged to be closed upon depression of the button 26. In the form herein shown, this switch comprises two spring tongues 35 and 3|, one insulated from the other and both mounted on the block 22. For sake of convenience, the floor unit supporting member and its switch is generally designated by the numeral 32. The floor section I4 is similarly supported by three additional units 32 carried by the arms Ill and arranged in a circle to bring them under the section l4. In like manner the floor section |5 is supported by three more units 32 arranged in a still greater circle to come under the floor section I5.

Any suitable type of signal may be employed such as an audible or visible signal, a visible signal being shown herein consisting of a lamp 33 responsive to depression of the disc I 3, lamp 34 responsive to depression of the floor section 4, and lamp 35 responsive to depression of the floor section l5. These lamps may be mounted at any suitable location, either immediately at the signal or remotely therefrom. In the form shown, the lamps are mounted in a wall section 36 which may be pulled outwardly to permit access to relay and battery units carried therebehind.

The operation of the device may best be explained in reference to the wiring diagram,Fig. 6, wherein the units 32 in the top position represent those units operated by the central disc I3; the units 32 in the central position indicate those operated by the floor section 4 and the lowermost units 32 represent those operated by the outer floor section l5. For any one floor section the units 32 are connected in parallel one with the other in respect to their switch members 30 and 3|. For the disc l3, these switch members 30 and 3| are connected in common with the wires 33 and 34 which lead to the terminals of a pair of tongues 35 and 36 respectively normally separated in a relay generally designated by the numeral 31.

From the terminal of the tongue 35, likewise the terminal of the wire 33, is carried a wire 38 to a switch tongue 39 of a second relay generally designated by the numeral 40. This tongue 39 is normally in closed circuit with a tongue 4| and from the terminal of which tongue 4| leads a conductor 42 to a switch tongue 43 in a third relay generally designated by the numeral 44. This switch tongue 43 is normally in a closed circuit with a tongue 45 of the relay 44. From the terminal of the tongue 45 leads a wire 46 to a source of electrical current herein shown as a. battery 41 which may be carried within the target unit immediately behind the wall section 36 adjacent the lamps 33, 34 and 35. From the other side of the battery 41 leads a wire 48 through a switch 49 to the relay 3'! to connect with the winding 50 of the coil thereof. From the other terminal of the Winding 50 leads a wire 5| to the terminal of the switch tongue 36 of the relay 3'! and also the terminal of the wire 34.

Thus when any one or all of the switches of the units 32 under the disc l3 may be depressed upon impact of a plug dropped thereon, the circuit above traced is closed through the winding 50 of the relay 31. Since the winding 50 is about a core 52, this core 52 will attract the relay armature 53 to lower it. The switch tongue is engaged by an insulating block 54 secured to the armature 53 and is thus depressed upon dropping of the armature 53 to bring the switch tongue 35 into closed circuit contact with the switch tongue 36. However the circuit above traced still remains closed even though the switch members 3!), 3| of any one or all of the units 32 be opened, such as by removing the bait plug from the floor disc -|3.

The armature 53 of the relay 3'! will remain down until that above described circuit is opened. When the armature is maintained in the lower position, it holds down a switch arm 55 in contact with a switch arm 56. The switch arm 55 is connected by a wire 5'! with the wire 46 which leads to the battery 41, while the switch arm 56 is connected by a wire 58 with the lamp 33 in turn connected by a wire 59 with the battery 41 so as to include one or more cells at least of that battery between that connection and the connection with the wire 46 so that the lamp 33 is there by energized indicating that the floor disc |3 has been struck by the bait plug.

Now should the bait rebound from the disc l3 to strike, for example, the floor section M, the One or more units 32 under that section 4 will be depressed to close corresponding switch members 30 and 3|, all of which are connected in parallel with the wires 66 and 6| leading respectively to the switch arms 62 and 63 in the relay 40, these arms 62 and 63 being normally spaced apart one from the other in open circuit. From the common terminal of the wire and the switch arm 62 leads a wire 64 to a switch arm 65 in the third relay 44. This switch arm 35 is normally in contact with a switch arm 33. A wire 31 leads from the terminal of the switch arm 33' back to a switch arm 33 in the first relay 31 which then is spaced apart from the switch arm 55 since the winding 53 is still energized.

Since that spacing apart of the switch members 55 and 33 exists, no circuit is closed. In other words, energization of the relay 31 prevents downward movement of the floor section M from actuating any signal light and thereby only the lamp 33 indicates the initial striking zone of the bait as being within the area of the floor disc I3.

Now assuming again that the bait has initially struck the central floor disc l3 and rebounds to strike the outer floor section l5, the switch members 33 and 3| close in any one or all of the units 32 under the floor section l5 and thereby tend to close a circuit between the wires 33 and 13. Tracing a circuit from the wire 39, wire 1| leads therefrom back to the relay 31 to connect with the switch arm 12 in that relay which is then separated from the switch arm 13 to leave a gap in the circuit regardless of what else is connected thereto. Therefore, depressing the floor section I5 still does not close any circuit to its indicating lamp 35 by reason of the looking out action of the relay 31 initially actuated when the bait struck the disc l3.

Following the desired interval of display of the signal 33 for the initial score, the switch 49 may be opened manually or by any suitable time delay mechanism (not shown).

Then upon a second cast, it will be assumed that the plug strikes the floor section M. In doing so that section I4 is pushed down to close any one or all of the switch members 33 and 3| to interconnect the wires 33 and 3|. From the wire 33, leads the wire 34 to the switch member 35 of relay 44, this member 35 being normally in contact with the switch member 33 of the relay 44. From the switch member 33 leads the wire 31 to the switch arm 33 of relay 31. In this case, the switch arm 55 is in contact with the switch arm 33. From the switch arm 55 leads the wire 51 to the wire 43 which in turn leads to the battery 41. The circuit followings from the battery 41 through the wire 43 and its switch 49 through the wire 14, the winding 15 of'the relay 43, and the wire 13 to the terminal of the wire 3| at the switch arm 33. This circuit energizes the winding of the relay 43 to shift its armature 11. In doing so the switch members 32 and 33 are closed one against the other to maintain the circuit just described following separation of the switch members 33 and 3| in the units 32. The movement of the armature 11 opens the circuit between the switch members 39 and 4| thereby opening circuit which normally includes the switch members 33 and 3| of the units 32 under the floor disc l3, thereby looking out any action resulting from shifting of the disc I3. Also the switch member 13 of the relay 43 is pushed against the switch member 19 to complete a circuit from the battery 41, wire 43, wire 51, wire 33, switch arm 13, switch arm 19, wire 3|, signal lamp 34, wire 32, wire 59, battery 41. The lamp 34 is thus illuminated by reason of the floor section |4 having been depressed.

Now should the plug rebound from section l4 on to the central floor disc I3, the lamp 33 can not be illuminated by reason of the fact that the switch members 39 and 4| remain open in relay 43 preventing the closing of theicircuit between the wires 33 and 34, through the relay 44 to the battery 41 so that the relay 31 cannot be energized to close its switch arm 55 against the switch arm 53 to illuminate the lamp 33. Similarly, rebound of the bait from floor section M to floor section l5 will not cause the lamp 35 to become illuminated since the wire 1| leading from wire 33 (floor section l5) connecting with the relay 31, switch arm 12, switch arm 13, wire 33 and switch arm 34 in relay 43 finds an open circuit between that switch member 34 and the switch member 13 then shifted out of contact therewith. The signal lamp 34 remains illuminated until the switch 49 is opened whereupon the relay 43 returns to its normal position.

Assuming that the plug strikes the outer floor section I5, switch members 33 and 3| of any one or all of the units 32 thereunder interconnect the wires 39 and 13. From the terminal of the wire 33 at the switch arm 35 in relay 44 leads the wire 1| to relay 31 where it connect with the switch arm 12 then in contact with the switch arm 13. From switch arm 13 the wire 83 leads to the switch arm 34 in relay 43. Switch arm 13 is then in contact with the arm 34 and the wire 33 leads from the switch arm 13 to the wire 51, wire 43, and battery 41. From the battery 41 the circuit continues through the wire 43, its switch 49, the wire 33, winding 31 of the relay 44, wire 33 to the terminal of the wire 13 at the switch arm 39 of the relay 44. Thus a circuit is completed between the wires 39 and 13 through the battery 41 energizing the coil 31 to shift the armature 93 of the relay 44 to the hold position maintaining the circuit just described. In doing so, the arm 45 is pushed against the arm 9| of the relay to close the circuit from the wire 43 through the wire 92, lamp 35, wire 59, and battery 41. Should the bait rebound to either the floor section H or the central floor disc |3, neither lamp 34 or 44 is illuminated by reason of the open circuits maintained through the relays as above indicated.

It is, therefore, to be seen that only that section upon which the plug initially drops operates to give a signal thereby indicating the exact zone of the initial striking of the plug regardless of 'how the plug may bounce or rebound and subsequently strike other parts of the target.

While We have herein shown and described the invention in the one particular form, it is entirely obvious that structural changes may be employed such, for example, as the addition of float means for carrying the target upon water, using a greater number of zones than the three indicated, employing audible signals instead of visual signals, and varying the actual mechanical skeleton framework as well as the particular mounting and location of the switching and relay units. We, therefore, do not desire to be limited to that precise form beyond the limitations as may be imposed by the following claims.

We claim:

1. In a bait casting target, a plurality of horizontally placed floor zone members one adjacent another; normally open, electric circuit closing members under each zone member; means under each zone member yieldingly supporting the member and allowing the member to be depressed to actuate said circuit closing members upon pressure being applied to that zone member; an electrically operated signal for each zone member; a source of electrical current; a relay having an energizing winding; a circuit including said electric closing members for one of said floor zone members, said source of current, and said winding; a-second circuit closed by said relay to include one of said signals and said current source; a second relay having an energizing winding; and circuits maintained in open condition upon actuation of the first relay through contacts in said first relay, including said second relay winding, said other signals, and said current source, withholding said other signals from operation upon depression of their respective i'ioor zone members.

2. In a bait casting target, a plurality of hor zontally placed independently movable face sections; a circuit closer for each section actuated by travel thereof; elastic means resisting said section travel; an electrically operated signal for each of said sections; a source of current; circuits between each of said closers, the respective section signals, and said current source; and electro-responsive means interposed in said circuits causing a section signal to operate and acting to hold open circuits to all of the other of said signals irrespective of subsequent travel of the sections corresponding to those other signals, after travel of the section initially moved.

3. A bait casting horizontally placed target comprising a central disc, planar rings concent trically surrounding said disc, a plurality of like supporting members under said disc and said rings, each of said members comprising an arm extending thereunder, a downturned leg, a

mounting member rockably carrying the arm,

and a spring interconnecting said leg with said mounting member to urge the arm to lift said disc or rings, screw means for adjusting the tension of the spring, a foundation structure comprising spaced apart arms carrying said mounting members, means locating and retaining said disc and rings in separated relation on said foundation and permitting limited travel therefrom as induced by said springs through said arms, comprising a bracket with a hole, and a post with a stop sliding through the hole, electric circuit closing members normally open and closed by travel of said arms in opposition to said springs, and a signal for each of said circuit closing members, a relay means actuated by travel of one of said arms rendering inoperative closing members of other arms upon subsequent travel of those other arms.

4. A bait casting horizontally placed target comprising a central disc, planar rings concen- I trically surrounding said disc, a plurality of like supporting members under said disc and said rings, each of said members comprising an arm extending thereunder, a downturned leg, a mounting member rockably carrying the arm, and a spring interconnecting said leg with said mounting member to urge the arm to lift said disc or rings, screw means for adjusting the tension of the spring, a foundation structure comprising spaced apart arms carrying said mounting members, means locating and retaining said disc and rings in separated relation on said foundation and permitting limited travel therefrom as induced by said springs through said arms, comprising a bracket with a hole, and a post with a stop sliding through the hole, electric circuit closing members normally open and closed by travel of said arms in opposition to said springs, and a signal for each of said circuit closing members, and electro-magnetic means in circuit with a source of current, said signals energized upon closure of said closing members, switching means operated by said magnetic means for holding open circuits to all other signals following operation of any one signal, and

switch means for interrupting the circuit including said electro-magnetic means.

5. In a bait target, a plurality of horizontally placed target sections independently shiftable; a circuit closer for each section; a bank of switches for each section; a winding of an electro-magnet for each bank for actuating said switches; an electrically operated signal for each of said sections; a circuit from said closers including the winding of its respective bank switch magnet and a normally closed switch in each of the other switch banks, and said current source, whereby the energization of the winding for one bank shifts the switches therein to open its normally closed switch in said circuit and thereby prevent energization of the windings in any other bank; a normally open switch in each of said banks for each of said Winding circuits closing upon energization of the winding of its bank to hold closed the winding circuit following operation and opening of its respective closer; and a circuit through a normally open switch in each bank including its respective signal and said current source closing only upon energization of the winding of its bank.

6. In a bait target, a plurality of horizontally placed target sections independently shiftable, a circuit closer for each section; a bank of switches for each section; a winding of an electro-magnet for each bank for actuating said switches; an electrically operated signal for each of said sections; a circuit from said closers including the winding of its respective bank switch magnet and a normally closed switch in each of the other switch banks, and said current source, whereby the energization of the winding for one bank shifts the switches therein to open its normally closed switch in said circuit and thereby prevent energization of the windings in any other bank; a normally open switch in each of said banks for each of said winding circuits closing upon energization of'the winding of its bank to hold closed the winding circuit following operation and opening of its respective closer; and a circuit through a normally open switch in each bank including its respective signal and said current source closing only upon energization of the winding of its bank, and switch means for selectively interrupting each of said winding circuits.

'7. In a bait casting target, a base; a central floor member; and a plurality of encircling floor members; all of said floor members being initially in substantially the same plane but separated one from the other; guides interconnecting the members with said base to permit travel normal thereto; stops limiting outward travel of the members; a plurality of L-shaped members carried by said base to have one leg of each extending along under said floor members in spaced relation one from another and to have the other leg of each downturned; a spring interconnecting each downturned leg with said base normally lifting the upper leg to urge the floor members yieldingly outwardly from the base; a normally open electric switch in the path of each of said L-members; a multiple contact relay for each floor section; an electrically operated signal for each floor section; a source of electric current; and circuits between said source, relays, signals, and switches arranged to have the closing of a section switch energize its respective relay and its respective signal, and simultaneously interrupt circuits between all other section switches, and their relays and signals.

8. In a bait casting target, a base, a central floor member, a plurality of other i'ioor members separated one from thejother; guides interconnecting the members with saidbase to permit travel normal thereto;- -'*stops limiting outward travel of the members; a plurality of members carried by said base having a portion of each extending along under-said floor members in spaced relation one from the other with a portion thereof downturned; a spring interconnecting each downturned portion with said base to urge the floor members yieldingly outwardly from the base; a normally open electric switch in the 10 and signals.

path oi each of said downturned portions; a multiple contact relay for each floor section; an electrically operated signal for each floor section: a source of electric current; and circuits between said source, relays, signals, and switches arranged to have the closing of a section switch energize its respective relay and its respective signal, and simultaneously interrupt circuits between all other section switches and their relays MARTIN D. JAIMET. FRANK C. KERCHER. 

